Feb. 3, 2005

Columbia, S.C. –
South Carolina has been predicted to win the SEC Eastern Division, as voted by the league’s 12 baseball coaches in the 14th annual preseason SEC poll. The Gamecocks have won four of the last six Eastern Division titles. Carolina won the East in 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003. Over the last five seasons South Carolina has won more games than any other Division I baseball team in the nation with 260 victories. USC has made three consecutive trips to the College World Series (2002, 2003, 2004), won two SEC championships (2000, 2002) and earned a SEC Tournament title (2004).

Points were compiled on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis for each division. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. Each coach also voted for one team as an overall conference champion. LSU received nine votes and is the favorite win the SEC baseball championship. The Gamecocks were second in the SEC championship voting with two votes with Florida also receiving one vote.

South Carolina opens the 2005 season on Friday, Feb. 11 hosting Longwood University in a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m. South Carolina is ranked seventh in the Baseball America, NCBWA and Sports Weekly/ESPN polls. The Gamecocks are ranked eighth in the Collegiate Baseball poll.

Eastern Division
Team Pts. ’04 SEC Rec/Finish
1. S. Carolina (9) 63 17-13/t2nd
2. Georgia (1) 50 19-11/1st
3. Florida (2) 48 17-13/t2nd
4. Vanderbilt 39 16-14/4th
5. Tennessee 29 14-16/5th
6. Kentucky 16 7-23/6th

Western Division
Team Pts. ’04 SEC Rec/Finish
1. LSU (11) 66 18/12/t2nd
2. Ole Miss (1) 51 18-12/t2nd
3. Arkansas 46 19-11/1st
4. Miss. State 30 13-17/4th
5. Alabama 29 10-20/6th
6. Auburn 23 12-18/5th

( ) – First Place Votes
SEC Champion: LSU (9); South Carolina (2); Florida (1)